The Federal Government, on Wednesday, charged Civil Societies and Non-Governmental Organisations to build strong partnerships and capacity with a view to protect the fundamental rights of the vulnerable groups in the society.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, gave the charge during a one-day forum titled: ‘Strengthening Civil Societies/Non- Governmental Organisations in the COVID-19 pandemic’.
The Minister who was represented by the Acting Director for Social Development, Mrs Mansur Kulliya, said that “issues concerning COVID-19 pandemic cuts across the globe and are reflected in all socio-economic pursuit, hence the need for strong partnerships and capacity building to achieve the desired result in the protection of the rights of the vulnerable groups in the society.
“It is in the realisation of the above, that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Social Development and Disaster Management is strengthening alliance and networks among NGOs and CSOs at all levels of Government.”
According to her, “NGOs has been playing a vital role from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the area of building community resilience, supporting vulnerable communities through food park distributions, supplying of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), among others.
“It is also a well-known fact that NGOs/CSOs have been playing a vital role in poverty eradication through collaboration and partnership with various MDAs and other development partners.
“The Ministry, in line with our mandate has developed various programmes aimed at improving the socio-economic well-being of the vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
“According to Mr President’s directive on National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP) which aimed at achieving macro-economic stability, it may interest you to know that the Ministry has been implementing many programmes on N-SIP which are also replicated at the national level. These programmes include; National Home -Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) whose objective is to improve the enrolment of Primary School Children and to stimulate local agricultural production and boost the Farmer income.
“Therefore, there is a need to ensure that these programmes, really touch the lives of people, particularly those at the grass-roots and Community levels. It is common knowledge that Non-Governmental organisations when properly organised and coordinated are catalysts for contributing towards the achievement of the Ministry’s mandate. It is in recognition of the vital roles played by NGOs that the Ministry attached much importance on the need to build/strengthening their capacities for effective service delivery.”
Speaking during the event, Dr Nwodo while reiterating the need for stakeholders to collaborate despite the challenges of hijackers of programme initiatives, urged all the NGOs to be sincere in their commitment towards the provision of assistance to vulnerable members of the community.
Other stakeholders who spoke at the event, stressed the need for an organised reporting format for NGOs at the grassroots and effective centralised coordination by an umbrella NGO at the national level via focal NGOs down the line.
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